Cannabinoids to Takeover Opioids in Pain Management

Opioids have been relied on for pain management across healthcare industries, but the gold standard for pain care is gradually losing its place to natural alternatives. Recent findings show that opioid use carries a heightened risk of addiction and increased fatalities coupled with its potential for severe side effects.

Opioids are still in use for different kinds of pain management, but research reveals that cannabinoids could be a safe alternative. Several studies like Ang et. al., (2023) reveal that medication based on cannabinoids show promise as effective remedies to specific types of pain where opioids have been the mainstay drug for relief.

In this article, we will see how cannabinoids are set to leapfrog opioids in the pain management space. Increasing research findings suggest that people experiencing diverse forms of pain can receive necessary relief.

How Did Opioids Become Popular for Pain Management?

Several factors contributed to the rise of opioids for pain management in modern medicine. Some of these factors include:

Long-lasting formulations

Opioid prescriptions increased around the 1990s due to advancements in the development of lasting formulations that sought to stifle pain issues with fewer doses.

Huge marketing strategies

Pharmaceutical companies committed huge sums to an aggressive marketing campaign for opioid-based medicines, giving the drug a stronger customer base among alternative products for years.

Lack of visible short-term outcomes

Side effects linked to opioid use did not get much attention for over a decade as the drug became a mainstay for pain management in several health industries. The lack of instant outcomes after use did much to improve opioids’ profile across markets.

Why are Opioids Becoming Unpopular for Pain Management?

Opioids are not so popular in the pain management space, as more evidence shows their negative effects on overall health. Common reasons why opioids are losing much acceptance include:

Overdose and fatalities

Opioid abuse has become common barely three decades after its wider acceptance, seeing more users become addicts based on the drug’s analgesic effect is quite worrisome.

Opioid-related deaths have been on the rise, according to findings in Rudd et. al., (2014) and O’Donnell et. al., (2017). Data from these reports and other studies reveal that there has been an increase in opioid-related fatalities across two decades.

Severe side effects

The long-term side effects of opioid usecontinues to baffle researchers with several adverse outcomes. Some common side effects linked to opioid use include addiction, confusion, respiratory problems, sedation, constipation, and more.

Synthetic opioids

Lab-made opioids like fentanyl has been responsible for a wave of deaths after use or the now-popular “zombie effect” – a lingering after-effect of excessive fentanyl use. The growing use of synthetic opioids has not done much to improve the profile of a once-trusted medication for pain management.

Increasing care costs from addiction

Findings from Strassels (2009) reveal that opioid abusers will need to pay almost nine (9) times more in healthcare costs compared to non-users.

How are Cannabinoids Staging a Takeover of Opioids for Pain Management?

Cannabinoids receive greater attention for pain management based on the following:

• Natural alternative – cannabinoids are direct extracts from the cannabis plant, providing a truly-natural alternative to synthetic products for pain management,
• Potent action – cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) through identified receptors to help ease pain and improve management of symptoms,
• Lower addiction risk – studies confirm the chances of addiction to cannabinoids for pain management are quite low based on available research evidence,
• No life-altering side effects – cannabinoids have no link with deaths after use and pose no threat to the lives of users based on its natural composition and precise action on the ECS.

These points and many more position cannabinoids for a swift takeover of opioids as the ideal choice for pain management. Growing popularity of cannabinoids in research highlights the seismic shift expected in pain pharmaceuticals within the next few years.

High-Quality Cannabinoids for Pain Management without Negative Side Effects

Ample research evidence reveals that cannabinoids can be effective compounds for different kinds of pain management needs. Findings from these studies support the development and wider acceptance of more cannabinoid-based medication for pain management.

Development of cannabinoids products for pain management is already at an advanced level with reputable companies backing the creation of such natural alternatives. Brands like Cannabryl already have dozens of high-quality cannabinoid-based medicines for pain management available for commercial use.

Cannabryl is a sub-division of Indogenix Biosciences and is focused on research and development of effective cannabis-based products for improved health and quality of life. The company helps create several effective cannabinoid products that can support pain management needs and assist in providing effective palliative care.

Cannabryl develops products from a superior, rare cannabis strain. The brand relies on premium-grade cannabis grown in the Himalayas for its unique properties and superior efficacy. Products made from this high-value strain ensures all users get the full effects of cannabinoids against pain management.

References

Ang, P. S., Sidharthan, S., Lai, W., Hussain, N., Patel, V. K., Gulati, A., Henry, O., Kaye, D. A., and Orhurhu, V. (2023) Cannabinoids as a Potential Alternative to Opioids in the Management of Various PainSubtypes: Benefits, Limitations, and Risks. Pain Ther. 12(2): 355 – 375. doi: 10.1007/s40122-022-00465-y

Ohlsson,A., Lindgren,J. E., Wahlen,A., Agurell,S., Hollister,L.E., Gillespie,H.K. (1980) Plasma Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol Concentrations and Clinical Effects after Oral and Intravenous Administration and Smoking. 28(3):409-16. 6250760 DOI: 10.1038/clpt.1980.181

Carlini, B.H. (2018) Role of Medicinal Cannabis as Substitute for Opioid Use to Control Chronic Pain: SeparatingPopular Myth from Science and Medicine. Seattle: Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington. http://adai.uw.edu/pubs/pdf/2018cannabisassubstituteforopiods.pdf.

Khalid, N., Patel, P., and Singh, A. (2023) Cannabis Versus Opioids for Pain https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573080/

Lucas, P., Baron, E.P., Jikomes, N. (2019) Medical Cannabis Patterns of Use and Substitution for Opioids and Other Pharmaceutical Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illicit Substances: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Authorized Patients. Harm Reduct J. 16(9)

MacCallum, A. C., Eadie, L., Barr, M. A., Boivin, M., and Lu, S. (2021) Practical Strategies Using Medical Cannabis to Reduce Harms Associated With Long Term Opioid Use in Chronic Pain. Front. Pharmacol.Sec. Translational Pharmacology. Vol. 12https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.633168

O’Donnell, J.K., Gladden, R.M., and Seth, P. (2017) Trends in Deaths Involving Heroin and Synthetic Opioids Excluding Methadone, and Law Enforcement Drug Product Reports, by Census Region—United States, 2006–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.66(34):897–903. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6634a2

Rudd, R.A., Paulozzi, L.J., Bauer, M.J., (2014). Increases in Heroin Overdose Deaths—28 States, 2010 to 2012. MMWR Morb MortalWkly Rep. 2014;63(39):849–854.

Strassels, S.A. (2009) Economic Burden of Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse. J Manag Care Pharm. 15(7):556–562.doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2009.15.7.556.

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